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Updated: September 1, 2023
When people think of Tennessee, they think Nashville, good ole’ twang and a city that strums guitars and heartstrings until the early hours of the morning. But as all Tennessee locals know, there is so much more to the state than Music City. Similarly, there is so much more to running a small business than meets the eye. As the owner of your own small business, you’re in charge of everything from opening shop to handling every crisis to paying your employees. We can’t help you with most of your day-to-day duties. What we can help you with is what we do best: payroll taxes. And even though Tennessee has no state income tax, you still have to worry about federal income tax as well as unemployment insurance.
We designed a nifty payroll calculator just for small business owners like you. All you have to do is enter wage and W-4 information for each employee, and the calculator will do the rest.
First of all, let’s give Uncle Sam his due. Here’s a quick rundown of the components that go into federal tax withholdings. For a more detailed explanation on all of the steps below, head on over to our comprehensive step-by-step guide.
Tennessee’s income tax is simple with a flat rate of 0%. For the calendar year 2023, Tennessee unemployment insurance rates range from 0.01% to 10%, with a taxable wage base of up to $7,000 per employee per year.
New employers pay a flat rate of 2.7%.
Now this is music to your ears! You’ve figured out all your payroll needs, so now you can focus on the important stuff for your small business. Get your signature ready because after you’ve calculated your employees’ net pay by implementing all deductions, it’s time to write those checks.
All you have to worry about is paying your employees on time and setting aside any taxes your company is responsible for (FICA and UI payments, we’re looking at you).
You will need to fill out Form 941 to file federal taxes on a quarterly basis, and Form 940 to report your annual FUTA liabilities. You can pay taxes online using the EFTPS payment system. All the IRS employment tax due dates can be found here.
If you’re still looking to fill your brain with more juicy payroll tax facts, here are some additional resources and contact information:
Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development (844) 224-5818 | Taxes and Insurance | Register Your Business
Tennessee Department of Revenue (800) 342-1003 | Tax Resources | Tennessee Withholding Requirement
These rates are based on local legislation and can change at any time. Always consult a tax professional if you are unsure about your obligations.
Employers in Tennessee can take advantage of the payroll calculator at the top of this page to quickly calculate their employees’ gross pay, net pay, and deductions in a few clicks. But occasionally, a company needs to do a little more math before they can cut staff paychecks. For example, do you operate a business where employees get tips from customers? Remember that you are responsible for withholding taxes from your employees’ paychecks based on the tips they receive. Additionally, if an employee leaves for another employer, you’ll need to calculate their final pay. So, if you need a little more help with the number-crunching, check out some of the calculators below.
Try OnPay out yourself to see how easy payroll and HR can be. To get started, just share a few basic details about your business. Our team of pros will set everything up and import your employees’ information for you.